Padsmith IEM VS KBEAR Tourbillon-Pro TB-Pro
IEM Comparison: Expert & Community Scores Side-by-Side
Padsmith IEM and KBEAR Tourbillon-Pro TB-Pro are in-ear monitors. Padsmith IEM costs $120 while KBEAR Tourbillon-Pro TB-Pro costs $102. Padsmith IEM is $18 more expensive. KBEAR Tourbillon-Pro TB-Pro holds a slight 0.2-point edge in reviewer scores (7 vs 7.2). KBEAR Tourbillon-Pro TB-Pro has significantly better treble with a 2-point edge and KBEAR Tourbillon-Pro TB-Pro has significantly better dynamics with a 1-point edge.
Insights
| Metric | Padsmith IEM | KBEAR Tourbillon-Pro TB-Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Mids | 5 | 5 |
| Treble | 4 | 6 |
| Soundstage | 7 | 6.9 |
| Dynamics | 6 | 7 |
| Tonality | 6.7 | 6.2 |
| Technicalities | 6 | 6 |
Padsmith IEM Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
7Generally Favorable
KBEAR Tourbillon-Pro TB-Pro Aggregated Review Score
Average Reviewer Scores
Average Reviewer Score:
7.2Generally Favorable
Reviews Comparison
Padsmith IEM reviewed by Jaytiss
6.3
Reviewer Score
Youtube Video Summary
Padsmith’s first IEM rolls in with surprisingly strong build quality: a small, comfy purple resin shell with a black faceplate, ribbed nozzle for secure tips, and an easy fit that works well even for longer sessions. The star of the unboxing is the case, basically the same premium-style unit seen on more established brands and a genuine value add at this price. The stock cable is light, flexible, clearly marked for left/right, and generally gets out of the way, making the overall package feel more polished than a lot of other ~$120 sets.
Sonically, this is a mildly bassy, warm-neutral single dynamic that brushes up against a JM1-style target without really planting a flag anywhere. There’s decent note weight and mid-bass punch with pleasant upper mids, but not much sub-bass depth, limited treble extension, and only modest air and micro detail, so the set ends up sounding competent rather than exciting. The tuning comes across a bit “all-rounder by committee”: not shouty or offensive, but also not particularly vivid, with technicalities that lag behind several similarly or even lower-priced competitors.
In the current market, this puts the Padsmith IEM in a weird value limbo: cheaper options hit a similar curve, while a small step up in price opens the door to sets with stronger resolution, staging, and character. Where it makes the most sense is as a comfy, good-sounding gaming IEM, with solid imaging and space that work nicely for positional cues, plus packaging that easily scores five stars even if the sound hovers closer to a three. For anyone who already loves Padsmith’s mouse pads or just wants to rep the brand with a “pretty good but not amazing” first IEM, it’s a fine pick, but as a no-brainer recommendation in this bracket, there are more compelling choices.
Jaytiss Youtube Channel
KBEAR Tourbillon-Pro TB-Pro reviewed by Jaytiss
7.2
Reviewer Score
Jaytiss Youtube Channel
Padsmith IEM (more reviews)
Padsmith IEM reviewed by Audio Amigo
8
* score rescaled + normalized
Youtube Video Summary
Padsmith’s first step into the IEM world arrives as a $115 hybrid pairing a 10 mm titanium-dome dynamic driver with a microplanar tweeter, wrapped in purple resin shells with a unique swirl and a clean pyramid logo. The accessory pack is good but not great: a big, sturdy hard case and a single set of white silicone tips that get the job done but leave room for a second tip option or a modular cable. The stock cable itself feels surprisingly premium for the price – light, flexible, non-sticky and easy to wear for long sessions – though a 4.4 mm or modular option would clearly suit modern desktop DAC/amp gamers. Build quality is solid, with well-finished resin, no visible seams and smart venting that avoids pressure build-up or driver flex. Comfort is a genuine highlight: light shells, sensible nozzle dimensions and a gentle “comfort wing” make this set an all-day IEM, passing even tiny-ear tests for multi-hour work calls and gaming marathons.
Sonically, Padsmith’s IEM goes for a warm neutral / mild V-shaped tuning rather than a strict Harman curve or full-on basshead profile. Bass is elevated in a fun way, with strong sub-bass rumble and punchy mid-bass that brings game soundtracks, electronic lines and kick drums to life without turning boomy or pillowy, staying controlled and textured. Lower mids are fuller and richer, adding weight and husk to male vocals and guitars, while female vocals sit a touch forward yet remain smooth and clean, with no masking issues even in dense mixes. The microplanar-driven upper mids and treble are well-controlled, detailed and non-fatiguing, delivering natural harmonics on vocals, bells and percussion without harsh peaks or glare. The set does react to higher output impedance, softening the top end, so it shines most from low-impedance sources, with impedance adapters as an optional tweak for very treble-sensitive listeners.
On the technical side, the Padsmith IEM offers impressive detail, imaging and soundstage for its class, with clear stereo separation and a convincing 3D presentation that works well for immersive gaming and well-mixed live or orchestral recordings. In comparisons, it sits as a warmer, more relaxed alternative to the Simgot EM6L Phoenix: not quite as bright or pushed in the upper mids, a bit softer in bass definition, but far friendlier to treble-sensitive ears while still playing in a similar performance league. Against sets like the Aful Performer 5 or the more expensive Ziggat x Fresh Reviews collab, it trades a bit of ultimate technical refinement for better comfort, a richer lower midrange and a more approachable price. Overall, Padsmith’s debut comes across as a technically capable, extremely comfortable, well-designed hybrid that offers strong value around the $100–120 bracket, especially for gamers and music lovers who want a warm-neutral, non-fatiguing tuning and who found brighter rivals like EM6L a bit too intense.
Audio Amigo Youtube Channel
Padsmith IEM reviewed by Kois Archive
7
Reviewer Score
Youtube Video Summary
The Padsmith IEM is a $115 hybrid from a mousepad brand trying its hand at audio, combining a titanium-coated dynamic driver with a micro planar tweeter. Packaging and shell design stand out with striking box art and a purple-black swirl faceplate that gives a more premium, mysterious look, while the shell itself sits comfortably for long gaming sessions and should work well even for smaller ears. Accessories are on the sparse side for the price, with just a basic case, one set of tips, and a fixed 3.5 mm cable, and there is a quirk where some clear eartips can turn slightly purple, though Padsmith states the materials are medical grade and safe.
Tonally, the Padsmith goes for a warm balanced tuning with elevated mid-bass, a bit of sub-bass roll-off, energetic upper mids, and a dose of air on top. The mid-bass is fun and bouncy with good texture and rumble, giving male vocals excellent weight and keeping female vocals lively when the bass doesn’t overstep. The real standout is the planar treble: it is smooth, well-extended, and offers pleasing microdetail that makes acoustic instruments in particular sound clean and engaging. On the flip side, that same mid-bass can become intrusive, occasionally masking female vocals and crowding the midrange, and overall technical performance is only average for the price, with several similarly priced sets resolving more cleanly.
For gaming, expectations are mixed. In titles like Apex Legends, the Padsmith IEM offers solid footstep pickup and imaging thanks to its microdetail, but when things get busy, the set doesn’t feel resolving enough and can make it seem like not everything in the scene is clearly presented, likely due to the mid-bass thickness and limited separation. As a result, it earns a one-controller emoji for gaming—decent for Valorant or CoD, but not ideal for hectic battle royales—while a more complex driver setup with a dedicated midrange BA could improve separation. For music, though, this is a strong value: good tuning, enjoyable bass, refined planar treble, and respectable imaging add up to a set that deserves a two-star recommendation and feels well worth its asking price for listeners who prioritize music first and gaming second.
Kois Archive Youtube Channel
Padsmith IEM reviewed by Z-Reviews
6.8
* score rescaled + normalized
Youtube Video Summary
Padsmith's first IEM shows up like a mystery guest: purple shells with only a triangle logo, no name, no branding, just a gorgeous, almost Pink-Floyd-style box that looks AI-generated but is actually proper artwork. In the ears, this set is exactly what a "nice IEM" should be – nothing pokes, nothing stabs, nothing annoys. The shape is compact, sits comfortably, doesn’t stick out like a tumor, and with a soft (if slightly thin) cable and stainless-steel plug, the whole package feels better than the asking price suggests. Even the big box and included case plus six tips make it feel like something that should cost significantly more, even if the stock tips are pretty generic ball-style affairs.
Sonically, the Padsmith IEM goes for a big warm, inviting presentation with clear, almost creamy vocals and bass that hits with real impact without turning into a muddy mess. The dual-driver setup – a 10 mm titanium-coated dynamic plus micro planar – is tuned in a way that avoids the usual “kill them with treble” trap; the dynamic driver handles the low end with authority while the planar adds air and detail up top without getting shouty or sharp. Source changes do alter the flavor a bit, but the core signature stays stable and satisfying, which puts this set in the mental “around $200–250” bracket purely on sound and build. It’s marketed as a gaming + music IEM with clear footsteps and positional cues, but it never feels like a gimmicky esports toy; it behaves like a proper enthusiast IEM that just happens to game well.
The real twist comes when the price is revealed: the Padsmith IEM goes for around $115 on pads smith.com, with no Amazon listing and barely any IEM branding on a site otherwise full of mouse pads and art prints. At that price, this thing hits like a ridiculous value play, delivering the kind of impactful yet smooth, “Mega 5 EST bass-plus-lite” type of engagement that would already feel fair at twice the cost. Minor nitpicks – a non-modular 3.5 mm plug, slightly thin cable, oversized box, and basic tips – don’t change the overall impression: this is a damn fine piece of IEM work from a company better known for desk mats, and it absolutely earns a full thumbs-up recommendation for anyone wanting an immersive, fun, yet controlled listen for both music and games.
Z-Reviews Youtube Channel
Padsmith IEM reviewed by
Fresh Reviews
5*
* The score of this reviewer influences only the Gaming
Score
Youtube Video Summary
The Padsmith IEM comes in around $19 with a surprisingly polished presentation: a unique purple faceplate for each unit, a semi-transparent shadowy shell that reveals the dynamic driver and micro planar, and an unboxing experience reminiscent of higher-tier brands, complete with a carrying case and coiled cable. The shell is on the smaller, ergonomic side and sits very comfortably, making long 8–10 hour grind sessions possible without fatigue. Overall build and comfort feel very well thought-out for a first IEM from a mousepad company, and the default cable and accessories round out a solid first impression.
For music, the Padsmith IEM goes up against sets like the Simgot EM6L. The Padsmith tuning is more intimate, with noticeably stronger sub-bass and bass impact, but that low end carries some bloat and reverb, especially next to the cleaner EM6L. Mids are handled well, yet vocals and overall timbre come across a bit more natural on the EM6L, which also offers greater treble extension, more air and microdetail, and a faster sense of attack and decay. As a result, EM6L feels wider, deeper and more spacious for most music, while the Padsmith IEM trades that openness for a more up-close, weighty presentation that bass-enjoying listeners may still appreciate at this price.
In competitive gaming, the Padsmith IEM shows a mixed but generally positive story. In Call of Duty, the more intimate stage and impactful presentation actually work in its favor, helping footsteps and key cues feel urgent and present; imaging holds up and it earns a B- tier leaning toward B on the WallHack Certified list, though heavy gunfire and explosives can still stress separation and layering. In Apex Legends, the combination of bass emphasis and intimacy makes chaotic fights feel muddied, with occasional verticality artifacts, so performance drops closer to a C+. For Valorant, louder footsteps and abilities can initially seem like an advantage, but the same bloat and reverb again hurt separation and distance perception, putting it around a B- to C+. Taken as a whole, anything on the list is considered viable, and this Padsmith IEM stands out as a very respectable first attempt and a compelling budget option for players who favor COD-style engagement and enjoy an intimate, punchy sound signature.
Fresh Reviews original ranking
Fresh Reviews Youtube ChannelPadsmith IEM Details
Driver Configuration: 1DD+1Planar
Tuning Type: Neutral, Warm
Price (Msrp): $120
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KBEAR Tourbillon-Pro TB-Pro Details
Driver Configuration:
Tuning Type: n/a
Brand: Kbear Top Kbear IEMs
Price (Msrp): $102
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Padsmith IEM User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
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KBEAR Tourbillon-Pro TB-Pro User Review Score
Average User Scores
Average User Score: n/a
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Padsmith IEM Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
5.7Gaming Grade
B-KBEAR Tourbillon-Pro TB-Pro Gaming Score
Gaming Score & Grade
- The gaming score is prioritizing technical capabilities of the IEM (Separation, Layering, Soundstage) and good value.
Gaming Score
6.1Gaming Grade
BPadsmith IEM Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
B+- The tuning leans easygoing, yet occasional unevenness nudges it away from greatness. A bit of EQ polish can smooth things nicely.
Average Technical Grade
B- An honest, middle-of-the-road performance preserves structure without chasing micro-detail. It's respectable for everyday listening sessions.
KBEAR Tourbillon-Pro TB-Pro Scorings
Average Technical & Tuning Grades
Average Tunign Grade
B- The tuning leans easygoing, yet occasional unevenness nudges it away from greatness. A bit of EQ polish can smooth things nicely.
Average Technical Grade
B- An honest, middle-of-the-road performance preserves structure without chasing micro-detail. It's respectable for everyday listening sessions.
Padsmith IEM User Reviews
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